West Ham 3 Liverpool 1: Super Scott is all heart for Avram!

West Ham’s Scott Parker will deserve all the credit if West Ham escape relegation

THE voting forms for the PFA player of the year are hitting the door mats this week and the choice looks split between Gareth Bale and Nemanja Vidic. [>

[>

But if there’s one man who should be top of every poll, it’s West Ham’s Scott Parker. [>

[>

It says everything for the obsession with the big clubs who win trophies that the West Ham skipper is rated a 50-1 shot. [>

[>

But nobody in this season has given more for his club’s cause, or shown more leadership on and off the field. [>

[>

If West Ham stay up, which could just happen after this Parker-inspired win, he will deserve all the credit. [>

[>

Two weeks after his half-time speech had inspired a dramatic comeback at West Brom, he did his talking with his boots this time. [>

[>

A brilliant piece of finishing scored the goal that led the way, then a ferocious appetite for work made sure the Hammers closed out their first home victory since New Year’s Day. [>

[>

And all that from a man who wasn’t expected to play because of a shoulder injury picked up in training the day before the game. [>

“Last night we felt he couldn’t play,” said Hammers boss Avram Grant. “Even three hours before the game we thought he couldn’t.[>

[>

“He twisted and fell awkwardly. It was a bad, bad injury. He couldn’t walk, he couldn’t move his arms. [>

[>

“Our medical people did a great job, but he needed more than an injection to play, he needed a big heart. [>

[>

“He is like players from the old times, where it doesn’t matter how much money they earn. [>

[>

“It is a game of passion, and I wish I had more players like that.” [>

[>

If Parker had a shoulder injury, it would hardly be surprising. He’s been carrying the club on his back since August. [>

[>

And although Thomas Hitzlsperger twice tested Pepe Reina with his trademark long-distance shots, the game was just beginning to drift when Parker grabbed it by the scruff of the neck. [>

[>

He swapped passes with the German before inventing a toe-poked shot from the edge of the box that caught Reina by surprise. [>

[>

And if the PA announcer was a bit over excited in calling it “the goal of the season”, it could still turn out a crucial turning point. West Ham were full of confidence and Liverpool’s afternoon got worse when Martin Kelly pulled up with a hamstring injury. [>

[>

Kenny Dalglish was still reshuffling his defence as Danny Wilson’s poor header directed the ball to Gary O’Neil in space and the winger delivered a pinpoint cross that Demba Ba headed in for his third goal in two games.[>

[>

A 3-0 win would have lifted the Hammers out of the relegation zone and they had chances to do it. [>

[>

But the soft centre which has troubled them all season was exposed again as Lars Jacobsen gave the ball away needlessly and with six minutes left Glen Johnson converted a Luis Suarez centre. [>

[>

Grant reacted by sending on Carlton Cole as a positive sub- stitution instead of trying to shore up his defence. [>

[>

And in injury-time Cole bundled Martin Skrtel off the ball before driving home a left-foot shot. [>

[>

It ended Liverpool’s eight-match unbeaten run and manager Dalglish admitted: “We got what we deserved, which was nothing. [>

[>

“I don’t know if you call it a reality check, but I just know it is much more enjoyable when you sit here when you have won a game than when you have lost. The boys have deserved credit for what they have done, but today they have to stand up and be honest. [>

[>

“Maybe the players who were involved in what was a tough Europa game on Thursday night were affected. [>

“We still had a few chances, but it wasn’t just the result. I was disappointed in the way we played.”[>

[>

Steven Gerrard, returning from injury, brought one brilliant save from Robert Green, but even he couldn’t find the spark to bring about a revival. [>

[>

It was Parker’s afternoon. In east London, it has been Parker’s season. [>